Ice hockey is omnipresent in Davos. The Hockey Club Davos (HCD) has contributed a lot to this. As the Swiss record champion, it carries the Davos colors blue and yellow into the Swiss hockey arenas all year round. The internationally renowned Spengler Cup and the impressive Davos ice stadium are other pillars of the Davos ice hockey tradition.
The internationally renowned Spengler Cup and the impressive Davos ice stadium are further pillars of Davos' ice hockey tradition. The Hockey Club Davos (HCD) was founded in 1921 on the initiative of the dentist Dr. Paul Müller. In 1926 the club won its first Swiss championship title. The Davos team dominated Swiss ice hockey in the first half of the 20th century, and the Swiss national team was effectively the Davos team. After the Second World War the HCD experienced turbulent years with many highs and numerous lows. In 1989 it went downhill to the 1st league.
After being promoted back to the top ice hockey league in 1993, the club hired the charismatic coach Arno del Curto three years later. Under his leadership, the HCD won six Swiss championship titles, the 31st in the 2014/15 season. In the middle of the 2018/19 season, del Curto left the crisis-ridden HCD after 22 successful years. At the end of this disastrous season, the HCD missed the playoffs for the first time since 1993. Under the leadership of Latvian coach Harijs Witolinsch, the team managed to stay in the league on its own. With head coach Josh Holden, the record champions have entered a new era in the 2023/24 season.
After being promoted back to the top ice hockey league in 1993, the club hired the charismatic coach Arno del Curto three years later. Under his leadership, the HCD won six Swiss championship titles, the 31st in the 2014/15 season. In the middle of the 2018/19 season, del Curto left the crisis-ridden HCD after 22 successful years. At the end of this disastrous season, the HCD missed the playoffs for the first time since 1993. Under the leadership of Latvian coach Harijs Witolinsch, the team managed to stay in the league on its own. The record champions have been coached by head coach Josh Holden since the 2023/24 season.
At the end of 1923, Dr. Carl Spengler donated the challenge cup for an international tournament. The competition named after him was intended to strengthen the HCD's playing skills and promote international contacts. In the interwar period, the Spengler Cup was considered the unofficial European championship. After the Second World War, the team tournament lost importance. The tide turned in 1990 with the professionalization of the tournament. From 1993, the HCD was back in the game as a spectator magnet. The home club celebrated its first Spengler Cup victory in 1927 and its 15th in 2011. The tournament now enjoys a high international reputation. Team Canada's games are broadcast live on Canadian sports television.
Shortly after the founding of the HCD in 1921, a separate ice hockey field was built next to the large ice rink. The playing field was bordered by 10 cm high wooden strips, behind which the spectators sat on simple benches. A grandstand with changing rooms was built for the 1926 European Championship. In 1960, the HCD played on artificial ice for the first time. From 1979 to 1981, the then spa and tourist association built the ice stadium that still exists today. The hall was nicknamed the "ice palace" because of the spectacular wooden roof construction. In 2004, the municipality bought the ice stadium and a year later carried out a thorough renovation of the north stand. From 2018 to 2021, the Davos Ice Stadium will be extensively renovated and rebuilt.